Munar lander with rover

[Scarecrow88]

This craft will enable you to get a lander to the Mun, complete with a rover that seats 2.

The complete craft

Flight is quite stable, with just a small amount of spin becoming evident as you go up.

All stages up to and including this one are jettisoned whilst on sub-orbital, minimising debris.

The booster rockets used for the ejection burn are the only parts that end up as debris

At some point it is necessary to EVA your Kerbals from the command capsule to the lander.

Once in a stable orbit around the Mun, the lander can be detached.

Landing shows there is plenty of ground clearance underneath for the rover. A minus point due to this is that the ladder is not quite long enough to go all the way to the ground. If you find this a problem, you can always move the legs slightly further up the tanks in the VAB before launch.

The rover is held in place by a separator rather than a decoupler, but is still released by a press of the spacebar.

Room for two to explore

There is no provision to re-attach the rover to the lander, so it has to be left behind.

To get the landing crew back to Kerbin, it is necessary to rendezvous with the command capsule and EVA them back over.

Whilst the command capsule has enough fuel to return to Kerbin, it makes sense to transfer any remaining fuel from the lander to the command capsule. If you don't mind leaving debris behind, once the crew are all back in the command capsule, the lander can be jettisoned. If you decide to take it with you and haven't transferred the fuel over, make sure to deactivate the lander engines, or your ejection burn won't go as expected.

Once a sub-orbital trajectory has been set up for Kerbin, the lander, if you bought it back, can be jettisoned.

And here we all are, back safe and sound.

The craft file can be downloaded here. Munar Rover craft file

As already mentioned, two booster rockets end up as debris, the rover is left behind and the ladder is a bit short. Also, the lander has enough fuel to land and return to orbit to rendezvous with the command capsule, but it doesn't have an abundance of fuel. If you manage to get in to orbit but run short of making a rendezvous, the command capsule is equipped with RCS and can make the rendezvous if you switch vehicles.

The rover is reasonably stable but will tip over if abused. Up to 10m/s usually doesn't trouble it, and if you disable the steering on the rear wheels to make it less sensitive, 15m/s can be achieved if driven with care.

Hope you enjoy it.

[DerekL1963]

Looks fun... but I can't load it. I get an "incompatible craft file" warning. What version of KSP did you build it in, and are you sure there's no mod parts hanging about?

[TheCanadianVendingMachine]

Looks fun... but I can't load it. I get an "incompatible craft file" warning. What version of KSP did you build it in, and are you sure there's no mod parts hanging about?

It looks like 0.19 or 0.20

[Scarecrow88]

I'm playing in 20.2.186, and flew the craft today to take the images accompanying this thread. I've never downloaded any parts mod packs, so it is definitely stock as far as parts are concerned. I've just downloaded it from Dropbox and it didn't give me a problem, but as I don't have a problem with the original I guess that doesn't prove much.

I started playing at 0.19, but can't remember if I built this particular craft then or in 0.20. Mods that I do use include Lazer docking camera, which I know adds code to the persistent file, but I've just checked the craft file and it looks clean as far as that particular mod goes. I also tried loading it in to a version of the game not running any of the mods that I do use, and again it loaded fine.

Not sure what to suggest as to what the problem may actually be. I'd be interested to learn if anyone else has a problem or indeed confirmation if anyone else is able to successfully download and use it.

ETA: Looking through my old save files, it looks like I built the original in version 0.20 if that helps.

Edited June 26, 2013 by Scarecrow88

[Scarecrow88]

It was getting a bit late when I replied earlier, but this morning I have tried downloading the file to my wife's laptop as she is running the game with no mods of any description, and it all worked fine.

[Lazro]

This happens when you try to load .craft files from future versions/patches of the game. Use the Squad patcher to get you up to 20.2... and try again.

[Scarecrow88]

Lazro I'm guessing that suggestion was for the benefit of Derek1934.

[DerekL1963]

Well, it may have been for my benefit, but he's out to lunch because I was already on the latest version. Anyhow, I downloaded it a second time and it worked.

[Mr Shifty]

Just wanted to say that I've been enjoying flying this rocket quite a bit. Did a full land/return from the Mun yesterday and the same to Minmas today. (Minmas was easier.) A nice, simple, low part count rocket that gets you there and gets you back pretty easily. Bonus that the lander is the most forgiving lander I've ever flown. Thanks!

[kvnsmooth]

Thanks for the file! Awesome craft! Have landed it on Minimus but have been unable to drive the rover. How do I control its forward and backwards movement? I can turn the wheels left and right, but how come they aren't spinning and moving me anywhere?

[firerider521]

It's a pretty simplistic craft, but I like it, especially how the lander is wide as it is. And that, right there, is a TON of fuel.